Fairytale
May 18th, 2008
The weekend was weirdly magical — not like I was walking around in a Harry Potter novel or anything, and it wasn’t particularly cheesy romantic, but I’ll tell you, Vermont is something. Some days I think that if we’re ever forced to move that someone is going to drag me out by my hair, although I’m guessing I’d willingly go anywhere in the middle of January when our driveway is an ice skating rink and our car doors are frozen shut. It’s easy to love Vermont in the springtime when it’s all lush verdant lawns and rolling hills and shit. Winter … winter might be hard. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing will only get you so far, Winter.
Saturday, we found ourselves in the middle of nowhere, as is incredibly easy to do around here, no kidding. If you were to get in the car and drive on any number of roads except for one, you are almost guaranteed to find yourself in the middle of vague wilderness with nary a gas station or convenience store in sight. I mean, there is literally miles and miles of nothingness and the occasional farm. If you think about it, it’s kind of panic-inducing: I live in an island of civilization surrounded by … nothing. Like, if my whole town were to BURN DOWN, we’d have to drive at least an hour and a half to get anything resembling decent pickles, you know?
This random turn of events is precisely how we ended up having lunch at a corner hotel-slash-restaurant that resembled the Bates Motel and was run by a proprietor straight out of a Steinbeck novel, complete with tanned skin and arresting crinkly blue eyes. His fingers were stained and calloused from working outside; he said the reubens were good, and they were — perhaps the best in my whole life, in fact. It was a cool 70 degrees outside and the sun shone over the mountains around us as we ate on the rickety old porch, and when he offered pie at the end of the meal, it took every ounce of restraint I had not to order a slice of each. It is one of the weekend’s biggest regrets, that I turned down that pie, but it remains one of the best meals I’ve ever enjoyed.
We took a leisurely drive and drove until our butts couldn’t take it anymore, through rolling hills and bucolic pastures and field upon field filled with cows and horses of every color, and even passed a camel grazing peacefully among some sheep. We covered at least a quarter of the state, in fact, and did I mention that I forgot my camera? Yes. Shit.
Speaking of farms and cows, I helped a friend move stuff out of her family’s estate house today and on our way there, we passed a farm with a series of tiny huts next to a hillside pasture. She casually pointed out the window and said, “Veal!” and continued the conversation like nothing had happened. At which point I stopped her, because OMG. VEAL. I’m not one to proselytize about anything meat-related — I eat it, with relish, and you’d be hard-pressed to convince me otherwise — and I’m loath to admit that I have eaten veal on many occasions in my life, but GAH GAH GAH the huts! The tiny huts! It was a little too real, and imagining the baby cows in there was just too … well. Let’s just say it will be a long time before I eat veal again, if ever.
I’m sure I’d say the same thing about beef if I ever visited a slaughterhouse, although it’s interesting to note that I was entirely unaffected by Fast Food Nation, as I think I’ve mentioned before. In fact, I had the complete opposite reaction with FFN and spent the majority of the book craving a McDonald’s cheeseburger, even with pages and pages of text outlining why that should be verboten, or at least grotesquely unappealing. I have a sinking feeling that witnessing it is an entirely different experience from reading about it, however, as proven by the hut experience. I mean, I knew how veal was uh, raised, but … well. The huts. They haunt me. And I didn’t even see inside the huts.
Incidentally I’m hoping that the difference of reading vs. witnessing will once again work in my favor, as I’m currently reading The Omnivore’s Dilemma which, if history is any indication, will have me craving food with copious amounts of corn syrup and grass-fed beef.
The house I visited today, by the way, was incredible, and has been in my friend’s family for three generations, and the contents go back much further than that. I sifted through boxes of 17th century instruments and toys and family silver mixed with World War II fatigues and combat photographs from the Vietnam War. The contents are currently being packaged for an estate sale and the home itself is being sold for a fraction of its value due to a family dispute. The property includes the town’s original general store, which closed in 1967 and there’s still a hitching post out front from … well, the olden days, is the best way I can say it. If anyone’s in the market for an underpriced (seriously, you would die) rickety old mansion with a sweeping foyer of Tara’s proportions on three acres that are perfect for vineyards, please let me know, because my God, I’d buy it if I could. Also? I forgot to bring my camera there, too. Shit.
And not to abruptly change gears, but two things I’ve been meaning to tell you. First, if you’re starting to read Elizabeth Berg out of nowhere, don’t start with The Year of Pleasures. At least if your name isn’t Lawyerish, for I got this to her too late and she’d already bought it. I just finished it and … well, it’s decent — the writing is good — but it is in no way her best. I’d be disappointed if you didn’t read her again because it didn’t meet your expectations. The Katie Nash series is a good place to start there.
Secondly, every single night cream I’ve tried has made me break out, with the exception of (drumroll) Night of Olay. Yes, the oldest, most low-tech cream on the market has become the only thing I can use without waking up with underground zits so powerful it’s like the monsters from Tremors have unleashed beneath the surface. And, in nature’s cruelest joke, if I DON’T moisturize, I end up with unhappy skin that looks like bits of pepperoni have gathered on my forehead and cheeks. Mario Badescu wasn’t a total wash, however, because I love their drying cream and special cucumber lotion. (PUT THE LOTION IN THE BASKET.)
Have a great Monday!
*Sara Bareilles
Entry Filed under: Nuttin'
21 Comments Add your own
1. tutugirl1345 | May 18th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
I’m reading the Omnivore’s Dilemma too! At the moment, it has me pausing to notice every time I’m ingesting something that was made by corn. Oh, and I stopped buying organic, and focused on local.
2. Schnozz | May 18th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Never, ever watch “Earthlings.” Which will show you a cow mooing, eyes rolling, with its trachea ripped out and dangling from its body. While it hangs upside down. On an assembly line. Yeah.
I haven’t made it to full-on vegetarian yet, but dude, after that, the burgers do NOT taste as good as they used to. I took a bite of a burger in Mexico, because all they had at midnight in Mexico were burgers, and I was all COW TRACHEA COW TRACHEA SWEET BABY JESUS COW TRACHEA, and I kind of wanted to gag.
I am ashamed to admit that I surfed desperately away from YouTube before they reached the part about why cheese is no good either. I can only change so much so fast, assholes.
3. Angella | May 18th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
I ama bad commenter (BAD, BAD!), but had to click through when you said, “Let me tell you”.
For that is what Graham says before everything he says.
He is all sorts of awesome. As are you.
4. H | May 18th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Vermont sounds gorgeous.
5. Sushma | May 18th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Based on your recommendation, and since i’ve been so bereft of book choices, i bought THREE Berg novels, including the Year of Pleasures..which i was going to read first but will now reprioritize…Flipped through a few pages of Open Road and can’t wait to finish it
6. elise | May 19th, 2008 at 3:48 am
Me too! I mean, based on your recommendations I bought Elizabeth Berg, me too. But I didn’t buy The Year of Pleasure, I bought The Pull of the Moon. And I really liked it. Thanks, Jonniker and the lovely commenters who gather here!
Is there a certain one I should get next?
7. Swistle | May 19th, 2008 at 5:10 am
Here is the problem with your posts: I am reading along, and I start to make mental notes: “HA–funny. Must mention that = funny. Oh, good point! Must mention that = good point. Oooo, interesting. Must mention that = interesting. Wait….now what was the first thing?”
8. Sadie | May 19th, 2008 at 5:24 am
I think my first “kindred spirit” moment from reading your blog was when you originally mentioned your reaction to Fast Food Nation. Because I don’t even really like McDonalds, yet I was compelled to drive straight there and order a Value Meal thanks to that book. But yeah, “veal huts” are something I’m cool with NEVER EVER SEEING in person. I like the taste of meat, so I make it a point to never click any PETA links or watch any movies like Schnozz mentioned…it’s the only way to keep enjoying a cheeseburger.
I love LOVE old New England homesteads, so if I had any reason at all to relocate to Vermont and buy one at a great value, I would. I wish you had pictures.
9. Shelly | May 19th, 2008 at 5:45 am
Isn’t small town living fabulous? I mean we live in an actual CITY, but a very small one (38,000-40,000). We have no fine dining, or evening ‘hotspots’, but we have a quaint, historical town, and lots of rural-ness to explore (ha…as if I ever get my butt out of the car to ‘explore’–I prefer to explore with the air conditioning on).
My dad has a farm where he raises cows…..yes, we do eat them, but I to date have not been ‘privy’ to the process. I just get the nicely packaged meat from his freezer, and eat it like I bought it from the store, only there are no hormones or antibiotics, and we KNOW where the beef comes from–which is comforting, althought the slaughter process is daunting to think about. But anyway…he has baby kittens, and baby cows, and a BARN and aTRACTOR…an idyllic scene for relaxation, really. AND it’s 20 minutes from the ‘city’. How cool is that?
My husband heard about bald eagles that have a nest about 10 miles from our home…….BALD EAGLES…….in MISSOURI??? And we went to ‘explore’ and we saw them. And their BABIES. I put a few pics on my blog, and I need to find where he put the rest of them—and link to it. Whoda thunk that in Mid Missouri, 10 miles from the Capital (or is it Capitol? I can never get that straight) that we could see majestic BALD EAGLES.
So I ‘get’ your awe of Vermont.
Oh, and my son’s vehicle got ‘egged’ last night. I’m fighting with despair over what did he do to get ‘retaliated’ the nostalgia of…… ‘Oh, how CUTE and what a teenage ritual…..”
Small town living….it’s worth the boringness that it can hold sometimes.
10. mdog | May 19th, 2008 at 5:56 am
in a slight tangent, i definitely watched “super size me” WHILST eating burger king.
it was delicious.
11. Jamie | May 19th, 2008 at 6:05 am
The corn syrup was a surprise to me when I started reading about the “new” food chain and industry – esp. in “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle,” and “Twinkie Deconstructed.”
I am so jealous of your small town existence. You are seriously living one of my dreams! I’m so excited that you are happy up there.
12. TwoBusy | May 19th, 2008 at 6:55 am
It puts the lotion on its skin or it gets the hose.
13. Jess | May 19th, 2008 at 7:07 am
Um, this post makes me want to move to Vermont, and that is crazy because living in a town surrounded by absolutely nothing? I could totally not deal with. But reubens and pie? That I could absolutely deal with.
14. Annabanana | May 19th, 2008 at 7:20 am
Ah VT. sounds absolutely loverly. But..a question… A CAMEL? Did you really see a camel? Tell me more..
And Elizabeth Berg is an all time fave from waaay a back. From Joy School to Talk before sleep…to the latest and greatest.
Back when she lived in the Boston area and did readings at the Brookline Booksmith..she used to bring her own home made Rice Krispie treats for everyone as well as home made book marks made from scraps of fabric. She’d happily hand them out! She is truly down to earth as far as any famous author goes. Another one of the same ilk is Alice HOffman. She does not provide treats however…But I adore her too.
15. Lawyerish | May 19th, 2008 at 8:16 am
I am actually liking The Year of Pleasures just fine! And between the book, her adorable website, and Annabanana’s comment that EB brings homemade treats to her readings, I may just have a massive crush on Elizabeth Berg.
Plus, she is Midwestern and has an upcoming reading in Oskaloosa, where a big part of my family originated. She is clearly good people.
16. Kristin H | May 19th, 2008 at 10:00 am
I can’t do veal. I think I’ve had it maybe once but…uhhhh. Baby cows. To be fair to other cows, I realize that I sholud not be eating any meat that comes from feed lots. (If you haven’t read Animal, Vegetable, Mineral, it’s pretty good. Sort of preachy, but still v. informative.) We are trying to make the switch to local beef that doesn’t live in feed lot-type conditions. Or huts. But laziness still sometimes wins out. The Omnivore’s Dilemma sounds good, so I’ll check it out. Is it preachy?
Also! I loved the Zygote Chronicles even more than Otherwise Engaged. I checked out my 1st EB book from the library…maybe Range of Motion? I’m not entirely sure…I had two kids pulling on me who were way past naptime.
17. jonniker | May 19th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Schnozz: Oh dear crap, I shall never watch “Earthlings” ever. Amanda (at Kickyboots) posted about it a while back and NO. NO NO. GEEZ. I like to eat too much, and I don’t want to be completely turned off of everything, especially because Adam won’t watch it, and I’ll be stuck as a half-veggie family.
Kristin: Well. I only just started reading TOD, so I can’t say whether it’s truly preachy or not, because it’s all so new, but for what it’s worth, the initial tone seems very journalistic to me and not at all agenda-pushing.
Bananz: Totally saw a camel. There’s a farm not far from here that has a couple and it’s SO WEIRD. My friend Matt and I saw it together for the first time and he was all, “Uh …” while he pointed vaguely off in the distance and I had NO IDEA until I turned and there it was. A camel. Insane, man.
18. Kathryn | May 19th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Ah, yes, I craved a McDonald’s double cheeseburger like nobody’s business while reading Fast Food Nation. I thought I was the only freak out there. And I also craved a Big Mac while watching Supersize Me.
19. erin | May 19th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
The trick to liking meat but not liking the process is to not eat meat that comes from factory farming. I’ve started the switch because I can’t deal with my imagination of what it must be like, let alone ever saw one. But veal, raised like that – no way. I won’t even stay at the table with someone who orders veal in a restaurant.
20. jonniker | May 19th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
erin: That’s the best part about Vermont! Local meat abounds, and it’s awesome. But I have to say, that veal I saw? Totally a family farm. I’m guessing that was one of the more HUMANE veal farms. Which: HORK.
21. ms picket to you | May 19th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
OK. Now I totally, completely miss Vermont. And Grampy’s. And the car I had when I lived there. And the way I felt driving that car like you did on a lark through beauty and nowhere. I don’t so much miss hitting the deer, as that sucked for me and my friend and the deer too, but everything else, I totally miss. And I’m jealous.
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